And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
Parallel translations
- WEB He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
- KJV He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
- BSB He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
- NKJV He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
- NLT He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says the mysteries of the kingdom are given to the disciples but not to the unbelieving crowds.
Overview
Understanding the kingdom is a gracious gift, not a human achievement. The disciples receive insight that the hardened reject. This reflects God's sovereign grace in granting spiritual understanding to those he draws to himself.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 35
- 1 Cor 2:9–10But as it is written, “Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, which didn’t enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him.”
- 1 Cor 2:14Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Matt 19:11But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.
- Jas 1:5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
- 1 Jn 2:27As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.
- 1 Jn 2:20You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
- Eph 1:9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
- Eph 5:32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.
- Col 1:26–27the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,
- Luke 8:10He said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom, but to the rest in parables; that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’
- John 6:65He said, “For this cause I have said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father.”
- Isa 35:8A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called The Holy Way. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools will not go there.
- Rom 16:25—
- Matt 16:17Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
- Jas 1:16–18Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers.
- 1 Cor 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.
- 1 Cor 2:7But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory,
- Ps 25:8–9Good and upright is Yahweh, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
- 1 Cor 15:51Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
- Luke 10:39–42She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
- Mark 4:11He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
- 1 Cor 4:1So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries.
- 1 Tim 3:9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
- Col 2:2that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
- Eph 6:19on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,
- Eph 3:3–9how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,
- 1 Cor 4:7For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
- Matt 11:25–26At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
- John 7:17If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
- Ps 25:14The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.
- Acts 17:11–12Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
- 1 Tim 3:16Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
- Eph 1:18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
- Isa 29:10For Yahweh has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets; and he has covered your heads, the seers.
- Acts 16:14A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 13:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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